Lighting fixture



Oct. 23, 1962 w. OGDEN El'AL LIGHTING FIXTURE 3 Sheets-Shut 1 Filed June3, 1959 INVENTORS 45:25am 14 0 DEN Eezvgsr PESCUGCCI BggNQ Y c #115 a% lATTOR Oct. 23, 1962 F. W. OGDEN ETAL LIGHTING FIXTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed June 5. 1959 INVENTORS flERI M 0420:

Oct. 23, 1962 F. w. OGDEN arm. 3,060,309

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed June 3, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS team/c Moa'vew /07' ixavesr PxIscucc/ BZRY C-Sc F6 ATTORNE Y United StatesPatent i 3,060,309 Patented Oct. 23., 1962 3,060,309 LIGHTING FIXTUREFrederic W. Ogden, Cheshire, Ernest Pascueci, Meriden,

and Henry C. Schiifer, Cheshire, Conn., assignors to The Miller Company,Meriden, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed June 3, 1959, Ser.No. 817,779 6 Claims. (Cl. 240-51.11)

This invention relates to electric light fixtures and more specificallyto a fixture affording an improved arrangement and organization ofelements for shielding the light sources and at the same timefacilitating maintenance and repair. Many forms of lighting fixtureshave been proposed, but known structures and particularly thoseutilizing fluorescent lamps are relatively complicated and expensive tomanufacture and maintain when embodying light shielding and bafiiingmeans to reduce direct glare from the light source.

This invention in addition to overcoming the disadvantages of priorknown light fixtures, provides a new and improved design andorganization of the component parts that greatly simplifies theirmanufacture and assembly with a resultant material reduction in cost.The invention further afi'ords improved light baffling and shieldingmeans to afford good light distribution and at the same time facilitatemaintenance and repair including lamp replacement. While the lightfixture in accordance with the invention is particularly useful withtubular light sources such as those of the fluorescent type, it will beevident that other types of light sources may be employed. Anotheradvantage of the invention is attained through improved light bafileconfiguration that is characterized by its simplicity and its improvedcooperation with other fixture elements to provide a strong durablestructure. By reason of the improved cooperation of the baffles with theother fixture elements, the degree of light baffiing afforded by thefixture can be modified over a relatively wide range with a minimumnumber of specific components.

Another advantage of the invention resides in the provision of improvedlight bafiiing means characterized by simplicity, versatility andeffectiveness in the attainment of a high degree of shielding withminimum reduction of illumination.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a noveland improved mount for light baffies in fluorescent and other types ofilluminating devices.

Still another object of the invention resides in a novel and improvedlight fixture having an improved arrangement, design and arrangement ofelements that will facilitate replacement of lamps and repair of thefixture, as well as replacement of fixture components.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a noveland improved light fixture.

The above and other objects of the invention will become more apparentfrom the following description and accompanying drawings forming part ofthis application.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a light fixture inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of a fragmentary part of thefixture shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the assembled fixture as shown inFIGURE 1 but with a light bafile assembly in lowered position forreplacement of the lamps;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of the lighting fixture shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional View of FIGURE 3 taken along the line 5-5thereof with the light bafiie assembly in operative position with thelamp assembly;

FIGURE 6 is an end elevation of a light fixture shown in FIGURES 1 to 5with parts broken away and partially in section.

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the lighting fixture of FIGURE 6 withparts broken away and partially in section.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the lightingfixture shown in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a fragmentary part of the lower edgeof the side wall of the fixture shown in FIGURES 1 through 8 andillustrating a modified mode of attachment to the light bafiles;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary view in partial section showing amodification baffle in accordance with the invention and in engagementwith a side wall having the configuration shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic view of a light fixture in accordance withthe invention and illustrating the light control attained by transverselight baffles;

FIGURE 12 is a cross sectional view of a light fixture in accordancewith the invention and showing a modified light bafile and side wallstructure; and

FIGURE 13 is a cross sectional view of still another embodiment of theinvention.

The lighting fixture in accordance with the invention constitutes anovel and improved design and arrangement of elements which affordsimproved light baffling, greatly simplifies construction and maintenanceand lowers the cost of the completed structure by arranging the elementsso that they can be readily fabricated by automatic processes andassembled with a minimum number of fastening means such as screws,rivets and the like.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES 3 and 4,it will be observed that the fixture comprises essentially twocomponents, namely, an upper portion including the light sources,generally denoted by the numeral 10, and a lower element 11 containinglight directing and bafile elements. In these figures the subassembly 11is in the lowermost position to facilitate replacement of the lamps 12and making such other repairs as may be required. The sub-assembly 1-1is movable to a raised position enclosing the lamps 12, as shown forexample, in FIGURES 6 and 7, to form a completely assembled fixture.

The elements forming the light fixture in accordance with the inventionand their cooperation one with the other is shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 5through 7. The sub-assembly generally denoted by the numeral 10 andincluding the light sources 12-which may be either fluorescent orincandescent-consists of a central wiring channel 13 having a top wall14 and side walls 15. A pair of L-shaped reflectors or plates 16 and 17are secured to the side walls 15 of the wiring channel and extendoutwardly therefrom, with the upper surfaces of the plates 16 and 17substantially in the plane of the top wall 1 4- of the wiring channel.These reflectors or plates may be secured to the wiring channel in anydesired manner as, for instance, by appropriate screws or rivets 18, aswill be observed more clearly in FIGURES 5 and 7. When screws areemployed, it is desirable to provide slotted openings 19 in the shortlegs of the reflectors 16 and 17 to facilitate their installation andremoval.

In the instant embodiment of the invention the ends of the wiringchannel are provided with slots 20 for reception of the lamp sockets 21and a second set of slots 22 for cooperation with a U-shaped bracketmember generally denoted by the numeral 23 to hold it in place in theend of the wiring channel 13. The U-shaped bracket member 23 has abottom portion 24 and a pair of upwardly extending side walls 25. Eachside wall has a T-shaped slot 26 therein and the top edge is flangedoutwardly as indicated at 27. The forward edge of each side wall ispro-v vided with an outwardly extending tab 28 for cooperation with theopenings 22 and the wiring channel and the rear edges have tabs 28engaging recesses 22' in the side walls 15 of the wiring channel. Thelower corners of the bracket member 23 have inclined portions 29cooperating with the inwardly inclined portions 30 of the lower edges ofthe side walls of the wiring channel 13.

In the assembly of the bracket member 23, the side walls 25 are sprunginwardly so that the tabs 28 clear the side walls 15 of the wiringchannel with the flanges 27 riding just below the indentations 15' inthe side walls 15 of the trough. The U-shaped member 23 is inserteduntil the tabs 28 engage the openings 22 so that the tabs, together withthe inclined portions 30 of the wiring channel hold the member 23 inplace. The sockets are then inserted through the cooperating openings 26in the side walls 25, and openings 26) as will be observed more clearlyin FIGURE 1. Since the bottom of the wiring channel is open, the wiringfor the sockets and any other devices such as ballasts and the likerequired for the operation of fluorescent lamps may be readilyinstalled. Each of the brackets 23 as described above, further includesa downwardly depending hook 31 and upwardly extending flanges 32, thelatter being utilized for interconnecting two or more fixtures to beplaced in end to end relationship.

The light directing baflle assembly 11 includes a pair of end platesgenerally denoted by the numeral 33. Each plate has a narrow centersection and upwardly extending end portions. The outer peripheries ofthe plates are provided with inwardly extending flanges 34 and 35. Acentral, inverted V-shaped trough 36 with the upper edges havingupwardly extending parallel flange-like parts 37 is secured to the endplates 33 by screws 38 which extend through openings 39 in theassociated end plates and engage threaded openings 40 formed in the baseof V- shaped member 36. The trough 36 is further provided with spacedgroups of slots for receiving and holding baffies 42 and each group ofslots includes a slot 43 intersecting the apex of the trough 36 to formslotted openings in each inclined side wall and spaced slots 44 inalignment with the upper ends of the slots 43. The cooperating baffies42 are preferably formed of suitable sheet material such as aluminum,steel or the like, and have central cutouts 45 each having a flat bottomportion 46 and inclined side walls 47. The side walls are inclined at anangle corresponding to the angle of the V-shaped trough 36 and includetriangularly shaped tabs 48 for cooperation with the slots 44 in thetrough 36. Installation of the baffles is accomplished by compressingthe trough slightly and then inserting each baifie into a slot 43 andmoving it upwardly until the tabs 48 are aligned with and engage theslots 44. Release of the side walls of the trough 36 effects fixedengagement of the baflles with the trough.

The outer edges of the baflles are inclined as indicated at 49 andterminate in narrowed sections 50, each having a recess 51 therein. Therecesses 51 have the general configuration of a horseshoe with roundedbase portions and open upwardly with each opening or access beingnarrower than the base portion. These recesses 51 engage a strip ofresilient material 52, as will be described.

The baflie assembly 11 further includes a pair of L- shaped side walls53 having a short horizontal section 54 and a longer vertical section55, the latter having an L- shaped offset 56 along the bottom edgethereof. These side walls are supported between the end plates 33 andare held in place by the peripheral flanges 34 and engagement of thelegs 54 with inwardly formed portions 57 on the top edges of the endwalls 33. The offset portions 56 on the side walls are arranged toreceive an elongated strip 52 of resilient material, as shown moreclearly in FIG- URES 6 and 8. When the strip 52 is in engagement withthe side wall 53, attachment of the baflles by engagement of therecesses 51 compresses the resilient strip 52 and causes one upper edge52 to bear against the inner surface of the offset portion 56 and theother end 52' to bear upwardly against the underside of the offsetportion, as

illustrated in FIGURE 8. In this way the baffle ends are securely heldin position one relative to the others, and the baffles together withthe side walls 53, mutually support each other to provide a sturdy,durable structure.

The sub-assembly 11 of the fixture thus far described is assembled byfirst attaching the bafiles 42 to the central trough 36. The elongatedU-shaped member 52 of the resilient material is then inserted in therecess 51 of the baffles and the side walls 53 are placed in position asillustrated in the drawings. These elements are then secured byinstallation of the end plates 33, the latter having inclined slots 33for reception of outwardly extending tabs 36' on the ends of thetrough-shaped member 36. The tabs 36' are bent over to lock the endplates 33 in place and screws 38 are then inserted as previouslydescribed.

Longitudinally disposed light baffles 41 are preferably provided andthese battles are installed prior to the assembly of the end plates 33.The baflles 41 each include a plurality of spaced slots 41 forengagement with cooperating slots 42 on the baffles 42. In this way thebaflles 41 are interlocked with the baffles 42 in predetermined angularrelationship as determined by the disposition and depth of the slots42'. The baflles 41 are further provided with outwardly extending tabs41" on the ends thereof which cooperate with the slots 33" in the endplates 33 to fix the baflles 41 in position. In the embodiment of theinvention described further baflling means in the form of horizontallydisposed strip 58' may also 'be included. For this purpose the battles42 are provided with uncut slots 58 slidably receiving the element 58,the latter preferably being of a light transmitting material and havinga light dispersing surface on one face thereof. The member 58' isautomatically locked in position by installation of the end plates 33 aswill be observed for instance in FIGURE 7 of the drawings.

The light bafile assembly 11 is secured in operative position to thesub-assembly 10 including light sources by means of spring clips whichengage the hooks 31 as previously described. The clip structure on eachend of the sub-assembly 11 is carried by an inwardly extending bracket60 which forms part of the end plate 33. More specifically each bracket60 includes a central opening 61 through which the hook 31 extends whenthe two sub-assemblies are coupled one to the other. The outer cornersof the bracket 60 are cut away as indicated at 62 and a pair of openings63 are provided at points adjoining the end plate 33. The spring clip orlatch for engaging the hook 31 includes a spring member generallydenoted by numeral 66 and a cooperating latch 72. The spring member 66is formed of a resilient material and has a body portion 67 from which apair of arcuate arms 68 extend. The body further includes a pair ofslots 68, a pair of downwardly extending tabs 69 and a central springarm 70 having a curved end portion 71. The latch 72 has a generallytriangularly shaped body, is provided with a pair of angularly disposedtabs 74 spaced at a distance corresponding to the distance between theslot 68 and the spring member 66. A central tab 74 is cut from the bodyof the latch and inclined outwardly at an angle of 30 to 45 degrees asmay be observed more clearly in FIGURE 7. A pair of outwardly anddownwardly inclined tabs 73 are integrally formed with the body of thelatch and provide means for releasing the latch to lower thesub-assembly 11.

The spring latch comprising elements 66 and 72 is assembled by placingthe spring member 66 in position beneath the bracket 60 forming part ofthe end plate 33. The tabs 74 of the latch 72 are then inserted throughthe openings 68' and the cooperating openings 63 of the bracket. Thedownwardly extending spring tabs 69 bear against the end wall of the endplate 33 and function to lock the latch 72 in place. The spring arm 70is inclined inwardly toward the latch member and holds it in an inclinedposition. When the latch and end plates are assembled the tabs 73 willextend through cooperating slots 76 in the ends of the trough 36 so thatthey can be actuated for release of the sub-assembly 11.

With this latch structure it is merely necessary to push thesub-assembly 11 upwardly against the sub-assembly whereupon the hooks3-1 will extend through the openings 61 and the bracket 60 and becomeengaged by the tabs 75. To release the sub-assembly the latches aremoved outwardly away from the hooks '31 by means of the tabs 33 as maybe observed more clearly in FIGURES 6 and 7.

In order to retain the baflie assembly in the lowered position as shown,for instance, in FIGURE 3, a pair of chains 77 are provided. The upperends of these chains are attached to a pair of spaced hooks 78 securedto the upper wall of the wiring channel 13, while the lower ends of thechains are secured to appropriate openings 79 in the end baffles 42.

The ends of the fixture are closed by a pair of flat plates 80 as shownin FIGURE 1. These plates each have an inwardly extending member 81having rounded side edges 82 and a pair of rounded projections 83. Toposition the end plates 80 the member 81 is inserted in the wiringchannel above the inwardly formed grooved portions until the projections83 frictionally engage a pair of cooperating openings 84 in each end ofthe upper wall of the Wiring channel 13.

With the invention as described above, it will be observed that theentire fixture is assembled with a minimum of fastening means.Furthermore, the baffles 42 may be fabricated of sheet stock without theneed for complicated configurations and with minimum waste. The planebaffles are supported by the central trough and the ends are fixed inposition by the novel and improved cooperation of an elongated resilientmember with the baffles and with the adjoining side walls.

FIGURES 9 and 10 illustrate an alternate mode of attachment of thebafiles 42 with the lower edges of the end walls 34. In this embodimentof the invention the modified side wall is denoted by the numeral 34 andhas a rounded end configuration generally denoted by the numeral 80. Theupturned edge 81 is provided with a series of spaced slots 82 with thespacing between the slots corresponding to the spacing between the slots43 of the trough 36.

Each of the bafiles denoted herein by the numeral 42 includes anoutwardly extending arcuate section 83 with a radius of the inner edge84 corresponding to the radius of the outer surface of the curved endportion 80 of the side wall 34'. The inclined end wall 49 of the baffieterminates in a short vertical section 85, as may be observed moreclearly in FIGURE 10. With this arrangement and the bafiles 42 inposition on the trough 36, the end walls are placed in engagement withthe ends of the bafiles 42' and with the edges 85 of the bafiiesdisposed within the slots 82 of the end Wall. When the light bat-Hingassembly is completed the baffles 42' and the end walls 34 are securelyinterlocked and form a rigid structure.

The light bafiling attained by the embodiment of the invention thus fardescribed is illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 11. FIGURE 6 illustrates anarrangement for the attainment of 45 degrees bafiling in a transverseplane extending through the fixture. The inclined baffles 41 limit therays A emitted outwardly toward the sides of the fixture while thecentral translucent or transparent bafile 58 limits the inwardlydirected rays B. Thus, direct view of the lamp is restricted to a totalangle of 45 degrees. Rays from the lamp 12 will also illuminate thetrips 58 and reflected light will emerge from the fixture in the areabetween the baffies 41 and the side walls 34. It will be observed thatother bafi'ling angles can be obtained by changing the depth of thebaffles 41 as well as the width of the baffle 58'. In FIGURE 11 it willbe observed that with the bafiles 42 as illustrated 6 in the drawings,45 degree bafliing will be obtained as indicated by the ray C. Throughthe utilization of half the number of baflles it would then be possibleto obtain 60 degree battling as indicated by the ray D.

Two or more fixtures in accordance with the invention may be secured inend to end relationship by improved end attaching means. Morespecifically, the flange 32 forming part of each of the U-shaped bracketmembers 23 previously described, is provided with a key slot opening 32'and a threaded opening 32" for the reception of a suitable screw 29' asillustrated in FIGURE 7. In connecting two fixtures, the end plateswould be removed and the screws 29 backed away from the surface of theflange 32. When the fixtures are brought into engagement the heads ofthe screws 29' will pass through the key shaped slots whereupon movementof the fixtures relative one to the other will move the screw shanksinto the narrow portions of the slots 32. The screws are then tightenedto secure the fixtures in place. Precise alignment of one fixturerelative to the other is accomplished by means of the opening 64 in eachend plate 33 and a spring loaded pin 65. The pin extending through asecond opening 65 of each fixture will move into the opening 64 in theother fixture to be coupled thereto when the fixtures are properlypositioned and thus cooperate with the screws 29 to securely hold thefixtures in accurate end to end alignment.

A modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 12 andshows an alternate mode of transverse baffie installation anddisposition of the central bafiling means. For convenience,corresponding elements of the embodiments of the invention shown inFIGURE 12 and FIGURES 1 through 11, are identified by like numerals.'Ihe bafiles, denoted in FIGURE 12 by the numeral 90, include an upperrecess 91 and tabs 92 that correspond to the recesses 45 and the tabs 48of the embodiment of the invention shown, for instance in FIGURE 1. Thecentral trough 36 in this embodiment of the invention has its slots 43cut to a greater depth to correspond to the somewhat shallower depth ofthe recess 91. In addition, the trough 36 is provided with inwardlyformed channels 93 to receive the upper ends of a U-shaped lighttransmitting baflle 94 which is received within a recess 95 in thebaffles 90, the edges of the recesses being denoted by the numerals 96.The upwardly extending walls 97 of the baffle 94 are inclined tocorrespond with the angular disposition of the edges 96 of the recess95. The battle 94 is held in position by the engagement of tabs 98 onthe battles with the corner channels 99 in the baffle 94. The outeredges of the bafiles 90 are provided with outwardly extending tabs 100which engage cooperating recesses in the side walls 101 in order toeffect support for and prevent vibration of the baffles. Bafiling of theoutermost rays of the fixture is obtained by the baffles 41 as describedin connection with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 1through 11.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 13 inwhich the transverse baffies are denoted by the numeral 102. The baffles102 are pro vided with upper and lower recesses 103 and 104 with theupper recess 103 and the associated tabs 105 cooperating with andengaging the trough 36 in the manner described in connection with theprior embodiments of the invention. The lower end of the trough 36 whichin this instance is made slightly shallower than in the priorembodiments of the invention includes longitudinal channels 106 on eachinclined surface and adjoining the apex. The central bafiie 107 includesa pair of upwardly and inwardly curved arms 108 for engagement of thechannels 106 and might either be snapped in place or slidably engaged,depending on the resiliency of the material of which the bafile 107 isformed. The bafile 107 serves essentially the same purpose as the bafiie94 of FIGURE 12 and the baffle 58' of FIGURE 1 and 7 functions to limitthe inwardly directed rays from the light source 12.

Baflling on the outer edges of the fixture is accomplished by providingend walls 109 having inwardly formed flanges 110 arranged to engage andafford support for the outer edges of the bafiles 102. The said walls109 may of course be made of opaque or light transmitting materials, asmay be desired.

While only certain embodiments of the invention have been illustratedand described it is apparent that other modifications, alterations andchanges may be made without departing from the true scope and spiritthereof as defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A lighting fixture, an elongated frame, at least two elongatedlighting sources carried in spaced parallel relationship by said frame,means including a .!-shaped deflector disposed between said sources andat least coextensive therewith, a plurality of spaced parallel bafllescarried by said V-shaped deflector and disposed transversely of andextending beyond said lighting sources, a pair of longitudinallydisposed baflies aligned with and spaced outwardly from each of saidlight sources, a third longitudinal bafiie including a relatively flatelongated member and means supporting said third bafiie centrally ofsaid light sources and adjoining the apex of said deflector, said thirdbafiie underlying parts of said parallel baflies adjoining the deflectorand being disposed in a plane substantially parallel to a plane definedby said light sources.

2. A lighting fixture according to claim 1, wherein said third batlie isformed of a translucent material.

3. A lighting fixture according to claim 1 wherein said third baflie iscarried by said transversely positioned baflies.

4. A lighting fixture according to claim 1 wherein said third baflie iscarried by said deflector.

5. A lighting fixture comprising an elongated frame including a centrallongitudinal wiring channel, a pair of elongated light sources carriedby said frame and spaced outwardly from the wiring channel, and a lightdeflecting and bafiling assembly releasably carried by said frame, saidassembly comprising a central V-shaped trough, a pair of verticallydisposed side walls in spaced parallel relationship to said trough, aplurality of spaced parallel vertically disposed baffles extendingbetween the side walls and carried by said trough, a longitudinal lightshield immediately underlying the bottom edge of said trough andsubstantially coextensive therewith, an oblique longitudinal bafliespaced outwardly from and parallel to each light source and end platessecured to said trough side walls and last said baflies, said lightshield and battles restricting emitted light rays to a reduced angle inboth the transverse and longitudinal planes.

6. A lighting fixture comprising an elongated frame having a downwardlyextending central member, at least one elongated light source disposedon each side and above the lower edge of said central member, aplurality of light baflles disposed beneath said light sources and insubstantially perpendicular relationship thereto, and a relativelynarrow elongated flat strip carried in a horizontal position by saidbaflles and in contiguous relationship to said central member with thelong central axis of the strip aligned with the lower edge of saidcentral member, said strip having a width substantially less than thedistance between said light sources and being formed of a lighttransmitting material to modify the distribution of light emitted bysaid light sources to limit the angle of view of said light sources andmaterially reduce glare.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,196,214 Kantack Apr. 9, 1940 2,277,433 Guth Mar. 24, 1942 2,365,614Winkler et al. 'Dec. 19, 1944 2,525,553 Kingston et al Oct. 10, 19502,615,123 Guth Oct. -21, 1952 2,621,285 Nitardy Dec. 9, 1952 FOREIGNPATENTS 753,450 Great Britain July 21, 1952

